The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1887-02-04
R + 7 RI B 7 Ito N.
BY "THE DUCHESS"
CHAPTER ".


II is quite o'clock as Nadine leaves
the house in Park lane and turns her
face homeward. It is very dark for even
an April evening, and the lamps are all
aglow, making her immediate world SO
pretty that she is rather glad than
otherwise of her inability to meet with an
empty tram car, and turning into Picca-
dilly, walks leisurely down its pictur-
esque hill with a thorough appreciation
of the charms surrounding her. 1t is late,
certainly, but women-unless they 90
half way to meet it-seldom meet with
impertinence; and Nadine, pretty and
distinguished in appearance as she is,
pursues her way in an even, uninter-
rupted fa alhion toward Regent circus.
A great, bulky woman, loaded with
parcels, coming somewhat abruptly
against her, stops her progress for mo-
ment, and compelling her to swerye
aside, throws her almost into the arms of
tall man, who very gravely laid his
hand upon her arm. A little shock runs
through Madness veins. She stops dead
short, and looks up at her companion in
dull, stupid way. She grows deadly
white, and her heart feels as though it
were about to stop beating.
"Ahl youi Mr.. Duran" she says
family. "You-you frightened me-
/" she pauses.
1t is impossible to account to him In
any natural way for the emotion that is
overpowering her.
He Is a man Of grave exterior, hardly
good-looking, but with strange, earn
est expression, that goes far to redeem
the irrcgularity Of his features. He
is about 80, but looks considerably
older than his age, as some men will.
Grief said many, aged him-his wife
having been taken from him when he
was only 26, and when he had seen
but two anniversaries of his wedding
day. But "a usual, gossip was wrong;
those two unhappy years of welded bliss
having convinced Mr.. Duran that all
was vanity so far as his vito was con-
cerned. In truth, he had never loved her,
but only learned chat fact too late.
There is n suggestion of strength in
his whole face, and specially In his
mouth and lower jaw, that makes itself
felt, and would perhaps be oppressive
but for the almost womanish softness and
gentleness Of his large hazel eyes. A
heavy mustache conceals n handsome
mouth, and it and the hair about his
brow are slightly tinged with gray.
"Clytie writes to me- to say she misses
you terribly" Mr.. Duran says presently.
They have turned, and are now thread
ing their way slowly through the ever
increasing crowd. Conversation under
the circumstances is difficult.
Dear little thingr' says Nadine
warmly, and more naturally than she has
yet spoken. This other little pupil of
hers, this little daughter of the grave
man walking beside her, is very dear to
hpr ttDp1l har I ruisa bar too yU;l1 ,.o,.
tell her that, Mr.. Duran, please, when
you write, and that count every day to
the one that will bring her back to mes,
81 shall tell her."
Then he looks at Nadine keenly. The
girl seems to feel the earnestness of his
regard, because presently she throws up
her head, as If In challenge, and looks
straight at him.
"You are thinkingr' she asks rather
defantly.
How impulsively you express your
self, and how tenderly-and how uncer-
tain am whether you mean it or not"
"You give yourself great trouble to
thus study your daughters governess,"
replies she coLlly.
They have reached a crossing and a
tram car at the sarge time.
You will permit me to see you homer"
says Mr.. Duran quietly.
mo, thank you. There is no necessity.
This"-indicating the tram car-"will
leave me almost at my own door,
"Still, if you will allow me''-
"9ou are very kind, but l would not
give you so much trouble for the world.n
There is o decision about her manner,
gentle as it is, not to be mistaken.
LAS you will, of course" says Mr.. Du-
ran, ''and having seep her carefully into
the car he draws back, and lets her pro-
seed on her way alone.